Microsoft Silverlight Learning Snacks

Microsoft Silverlight Learning Snacks are short, interactive presentations about popular topics created by Microsoft Learning experts. Each Snack is delivered by using innovative Microsoft Silverlight technology and includes various media, such as animations and recorded demos. At the end of each free presentation, you can view more Snacks, learn more about the topic, or visit a related Web site.

If you do not have much time, these bite-sized Silverlight Learning Snacks about Microsoft products and technologies are easy to watch and digest. See the following list of available Snacks.

Note To view Learning Snacks, you must install Microsoft Silverlight and enable pop-up windows.

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Core Infrastructure Optimization (Core IO)
	Core IO (14 minutes) Organizations need to optimize their IT infrastructure so that it can keep up with their growing business needs. Microsoft provides three models that define a roadmap for organizations to reach infrastructure maturity. This Snack describes the Core Infrastructure Optimization (Core IO) model, which can help organizations improve the current state of their IT infrastructure in terms of cost, security, and agility.
	Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (14 minutes) The Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) is a suite of products that can help organizations implement the Core Infrastructure Optimization (Core IO) model. This Learning Snack explains how the MDOP facilitates Infrastructure Optimization (IO). It also demonstrates procedures for recovering lost files and managing Group Policy objects (GPOs) by using products in the MDOP suite.

Core Infrastructure Optimization (Core IO)

Core IO (14 minutes)
Organizations need to optimize their IT infrastructure so that it can keep up with their growing business needs. Microsoft provides three models that define a roadmap for organizations to reach infrastructure maturity. This Snack describes the Core Infrastructure Optimization (Core IO) model, which can help organizations improve the current state of their IT infrastructure in terms of cost, security, and agility.

Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (14 minutes)
The Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) is a suite of products that can help organizations implement the Core Infrastructure Optimization (Core IO) model. This Learning Snack explains how the MDOP facilitates Infrastructure Optimization (IO). It also demonstrates procedures for recovering lost files and managing Group Policy objects (GPOs) by using products in the MDOP suite.

Learning Central
	Microsoft Learning Central Business Web site (32 minutes) New The Microsoft Learning Central Business Web site, or Learning Central, helps businesses accelerate the adoption and deployment of their Microsoft Learning Solutions and Microsoft Software Assurance for Volume Licensing e-learning by providing easy-to-use administration tools in a free, Web-based platform. Businesses increase staff productivity and retention by offering relevant training to the right people at the right time, in any location. This Learning Snack provides an overview of Learning Central as well as information on how to gain access, register, and manage users and groups.

Learning Central

Microsoft Learning Central Business Web site (32 minutes) New
The Microsoft Learning Central Business Web site, or Learning Central, helps businesses accelerate the adoption and deployment of their Microsoft Learning Solutions and Microsoft Software Assurance for Volume Licensing e-learning by providing easy-to-use administration tools in a free, Web-based platform. Businesses increase staff productivity and retention by offering relevant training to the right people at the right time, in any location. This Learning Snack provides an overview of Learning Central as well as information on how to gain access, register, and manage users and groups.

Management Reporter 2.0
	What’s New in Management Reporter 2.0 for Microsoft Dynamics ERP (10 minutes) New This Learning Snack provides an overview of the architecture, features, and benefits of Management Reporter and describes how it differs from Microsoft Dynamics FRx. This Snack discusses Report Viewer and Report Library as well as the new features in Report Designer.

Microsoft Biz Talk Server 2009
	Introducing Microsoft BizTalk Server (14 minutes) Microsoft BizTalk Server 2009 enables organizations to integrate their business applications and data, and simplify access to critical data across disparate systems. By deploying BizTalk Server, organizations can streamline their IT infrastructure while maximizing their investment value. Organizations can also automate their core business processes, connect with their trading partners, and gain increased visibility into operations. This Learning Snack describes the core capabilities of BizTalk Server and explains how it helps organizations build end-to-end integration solutions at a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) than competing products or custom solutions.
	Enterprise Application Integration Using Microsoft BizTalk Server (14 minutes) To increase efficiency and improve the accuracy of business processes, two or more organizations may need to integrate their systems with the help of Enterprise Application Integration (EAI). These integrated systems also need to communicate with a variety of customer and supplier applications through secure transactions to provide real-time information. This Learning Snack describes how Microsoft BizTalk Server can help organizations integrate disparate business processes into a single entity so that it can facilitate seamless access, storage, sharing, collaboration, and flow of information.
	Accessing Mainframe Data and Applications by Using Microsoft BizTalk Server (15 minutes) Microsoft BizTalk Host Integration Server offers powerful tools and technologies that help your organization seamlessly connect host systems with new applications. This cost-effective host integration solution helps you preserve the investments in your existing systems and at the same time deploy state-of-the-art applications. This Learning Snack describes the benefits of host integration in terms of managing application, data, network, and security integration efficiently. This Learning Snack also illustrates how your organization can integrate new applications with existing host systems to achieve its business goals.
	Using Microsoft BizTalk Server to Build Agile EDI/B2B Solutions (14 minutes) Business-to-business (B2B) integration refers to the integration of one organization’s systems with those of its trading partners. This leads to partnerships that benefit both organizations. Benefits include reduced cycle times, faster time to market, and improved customer service. Microsoft BizTalk Server offers you a powerful B2B integration solution. This Learning Snack describes the benefits of B2B integration. It explains how BizTalk Server technologies, such as Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Applicability Statement 2 (AS2), and industry-specific accelerators, help you implement a B2B integration solution. The Learning Snack also describes the features of the BizTalk Server Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) toolkit, which extends the capabilities of BizTalk Server to support a service-oriented architecture.
	Real World Visibility with Microsoft BizTalk RFID (13 minutes) Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a data-collection technology that helps you track your moving inventory across the supply chain, or count your inventory faster. RFID does not require line of sight for data collection, which is a major advantage over traditional technologies, such as bar codes. Microsoft BizTalk RFID is an innovative device management and event-processing platform that provides a scalable platform for development, deployment, and management of RFID applications. This Learning Snack describes the benefits of RFID. It also explains the core capabilities and layered architecture of BizTalk RFID.
	Real-Time Process Intelligence with BAM in Microsoft BizTalk Server (11 minutes) In today’s competitive world, making quick and informed business decisions is more important than ever. Business workers need the flexibility to gain end-to-end visibility of business processes. With the Business Activity Monitoring (BAM) feature in Microsoft BizTalk Server, business workers can access real-time information about the state of a business process. BAM includes a collection of tools, application programming interfaces (APIs), and services that help monitor relevant business metrics. This Learning Snack describes BAM features. It also describes BAM workflow, which involves business analysts, system administrators, developers, and business workers.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0
	Basic User Configuration Options in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 (10 minutes) New This Learning Snack is intended for new or fairly inexperienced users of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 and provides an overview of the configuration options available for personalizing their Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 experience. The Snack shows users how to change the way Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 displays data by using Personal Options, configure synchronization with Microsoft Office Outlook, configure email access settings, and view their CRM user record.
	Configuring Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 for Global Environments (10 minutes) New This Learning Snack provides an overview of the configuration options for deploying Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 in global environments. This Snack explains how to configure currency settings, configure Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 for multiple languages, translate custom entity and attribute names, and configure sites and fiscal-year settings.
	Configuring Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 for Internet-Facing Deployments (10 minutes) New This Learning Snack gives Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 administrators an overview of the process for making CRM 4.0 accessible over the Internet. The Snack explains the purpose of using an Internet-Facing Deployment (IFD), as well as how to choose the appropriate configuration, configure an IFD, and troubleshoot an installation of IFD.
	Importing Data in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 (10 minutes) New This Learning Snack gives Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 users an overview of the tools available for importing data. The Snack explains how to choose the appropriate import tool, prepare import files, configure data maps, maintain links between record types, and troubleshoot data import failures.
	Configuring and Using the Product Catalog in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 (10 minutes) New This Learning Snack gives Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 users an overview of how to configure and use the product catalog. The Snack covers the purpose of the product catalog and explains how to configure product catalog components (discount lists, unit groups, price lists, and products) and configure product pricing for multiple currencies.
	Configuring Email Routers for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 (21 minutes) New This Learning Snack describes the options for managing email in and out of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 by using the email router. The Snack explains how to use the email configuration options, configure the email router for incoming and outgoing email, identify the user steps required to complete configuration, and troubleshoot common email router issues.

Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0
	Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Together with Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 (52 minutes) New This Learning Snack provides tools for students to understand technical aspects of using Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services together with Microsoft Dynamics GP, and helps them gain foundational knowledge of the application functionality and capabilities. This Snack shows how to perform basic report creation and modification.
	Microsoft Excel and Excel Reports Together with Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 (33 minutes) New This Learning Snack provides tools for students to understand and better use the Microsoft Office Excel reports functionality in Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0. This Snack explains how to deploy and use the Office Excel reports included in Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0, including security considerations. It also shows how to create custom Excel reports.

Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Together with Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 (52 minutes) New
This Learning Snack provides tools for students to understand technical aspects of using Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services together with Microsoft Dynamics GP, and helps them gain foundational knowledge of the application functionality and capabilities. This Snack shows how to perform basic report creation and modification.

Microsoft Excel and Excel Reports together with Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 – Learning Snacks

Microsoft Excel and Excel Reports Together with Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 (33 minutes) New
This Learning Snack provides tools for students to understand and better use the Microsoft Office Excel reports functionality in Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0. This Snack explains how to deploy and use the Office Excel reports included in Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0, including security considerations. It also shows how to create custom Excel reports.

Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010
	What's New in Manufacturing Applications in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 (15 minutes) New This Learning Snack provides an overview of some important new functionality in the Manufacturing Series modules in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010. The modules addressed in this Snack are sales forecasting, material requirements planning (MRP), and the standard costing functionality included in Microsoft Dynamics GP Manufacturing.
	What's New in Advanced Distribution in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 (10 minutes) New This Learning Snack provides a brief overview of some important new functionality in the Distribution Series modules in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010. It focuses on auto-receiving in transit transfers, changes made to the purchasing returns process, and encumbrance management integration with purchase order approvals.
	What's New in Payroll – U.S. in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 (10 minutes) New This Snack provides a brief overview of some important new functionality added to the Payroll – U.S. module in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010. The Snack focuses on processing concurrent pay runs, reprinting paystubs and earnings statements, and tracking fiscal year values for pay, benefits, and deductions.
	What's New in Field Service Call Management in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 (10 minutes) New This Snack provides an overview of some of the important new functionalities in Service Call Management in the Field Service Series in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010.
	What's New in Human Resources with Payroll – U.S. in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 (10 minutes) New This Snack provides a brief overview of some important new functionality in the Human Resources and Payroll modules in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010.
	What's New in Field Service Preventive Maintenance in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 (10 minutes) New This Snack provides an overview of the new functionality in Preventive Maintenance in the Field Service series in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010.
	What's New in Field Service Contract Administration in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 (10 minutes) New This Snack provides an overview of the new functionality in Contract Administration in the Field Service series in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010. This overview includes setting up multiple services hours, changing the contract billing frequencies, creating separate invoices for multiple sites, and using new tools to reconcile contract revenue.
	Using Field Service Depot Management in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 (10 minutes) New This Snack provides an overview of the Depot Management module in the Field Service series in Microsoft Dynamics GP. This overview includes the purpose of stations and how to enter work orders, labor time, and parts.
	What's New in Field Service Series in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 (9 minutes) New This Snack provides an overview of the new functionality in the Field Service Series in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010. This overview includes how to enter transactions with kits and enter transactions with non-inventoried items, and how Field Service integrates into the Payroll module.
	Using Field Service Returns Management in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 (8 minutes) New This Snack provides an overview of some helpful functionality available in Returns Management in the Field Service Series in Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010. This overview includes how to send inventory to scrap, add a restocking fee, and create a Depot Management work order to track costs.

Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step 2010
	Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step for an Agile World (15 minutes) New This Learning Snack introduces the Agile project type and approach as detailed by Sure Step 2010. This Snack describes what an Agile project is, how it functions, and how resources function within an Agile project as part of a Microsoft Dynamics implementation.
	Positioning Microsoft Dynamics CRM Solutions and Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step Decision Accelerators for Public Sector (20 minutes) New This Snack presents an overview of how the Diagnostic Phase activities and Public Sector Industry/Vertical Solution guidance and templates within Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step can supplement the selling process and help you close more Microsoft Dynamics CRM public sector sales.
	Creating a Project Using Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step (14 minutes) New Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step is a comprehensive customer engagement methodology that describes the processes and disciplines necessary to implement Microsoft Dynamics products. This Learning Snack is intended for individuals who plan to use Sure Step to create and manage editable customer projects based on the Sure Step deliverables. This Learning Snack includes guidance on how to create Sure Step projects on a Microsoft SharePoint site, providing a true platform for collaboration on implementation projects.

Microsoft Exchange Server 2010
	High Availability and Storage in Exchange Server 2010 (17 minutes) For most organizations, flexible and cost-effective communication tools are important factors for meeting goals such as high availability and enhanced database recovery. Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 helps organizations achieve these goals with a simplified, unified framework that helps them lower their costs and enhance business productivity. This Learning Snack explains how mailbox availability is achieved in Exchange server 2010 and how the new and improved database recovery and storage features help organizations manage their Exchange environment better.
	Unified Messaging in Exchange Server 2010 (18 minutes) Today, one of the topmost priorities for most organizations is to enable users to communicate and connect with others anytime quickly and easily. To meet this need and at the same time reduce costs, many organizations are now adopting Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 to take advantage of the enhanced unified messaging feature. Unified messaging provides users with flexible and powerful new ways of accessing information and increasing productivity. This Learning Snack explains how unified messaging works and also describes its architecture. In addition, it describes the voice mail integration feature of Exchange Server 2010.

Microsoft Exchange Server 2010

High Availability and Storage in Exchange Server 2010 (17 minutes)
For most organizations, flexible and cost-effective communication tools are important factors for meeting goals such as high availability and enhanced database recovery. Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 helps organizations achieve these goals with a simplified, unified framework that helps them lower their costs and enhance business productivity. This Learning Snack explains how mailbox availability is achieved in Exchange server 2010 and how the new and improved database recovery and storage features help organizations manage their Exchange environment better.

Unified Messaging in Exchange Server 2010 (18 minutes)
Today, one of the topmost priorities for most organizations is to enable users to communicate and connect with others anytime quickly and easily. To meet this need and at the same time reduce costs, many organizations are now adopting Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 to take advantage of the enhanced unified messaging feature. Unified messaging provides users with flexible and powerful new ways of accessing information and increasing productivity. This Learning Snack explains how unified messaging works and also describes its architecture. In addition, it describes the voice mail integration feature of Exchange Server 2010.

Microsoft Office 2010
	Introducing Common Features Across Microsoft Office 2010 Programs (15 minutes) New Microsoft Office 2010 is designed to let you work how, when, and where you want, enabling you get content from a computer, the Web, and even a smartphone. Many of the features in Microsoft Office 2010 can be found consistently across multiple programs. This Learning Snack describes some of the key new and improved common features across these programs and how they enable you to bring your ideas to life, help you work with others more effectively, and enable "anywhere access" to your work.

Microsoft Office 2010

Introducing Common Features Across Microsoft Office 2010 Programs (15 minutes) New
Microsoft Office 2010 is designed to let you work how, when, and where you want, enabling you get content from a computer, the Web, and even a smartphone. Many of the features in Microsoft Office 2010 can be found consistently across multiple programs. This Learning Snack describes some of the key new and improved common features across these programs and how they enable you to bring your ideas to life, help you work with others more effectively, and enable "anywhere access" to your work.

Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010
	Developing Solutions with Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 (20 minutes) New Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 enables developers to build rich solutions easily, rapidly, and efficiently. This Learning Snack demonstrates how you can use Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 to create and deploy your solutions. It also demonstrates how you can build Microsoft Silverlight applications by using the SharePoint 2010 client object model, and how you can use LINQ to SharePoint to create SharePoint entities.
	Experiencing the Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 User Interface (20 minutes) New Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 includes an enhanced user interface that provides IT professionals with a streamlined administration experience. This Learning Snack describes the features of the SharePoint Server 2010 user interface. It demonstrates how the new Central Administration console enables you to perform several administrative tasks from one central location. The Learning Snack also describes how shared application architecture can be used for flexible deployments in SharePoint Server 2010.
	Managing and Troubleshooting with Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 (17 minutes) New Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 facilitates administration by providing several tools that help IT professionals efficiently manage data and troubleshoot any issues. This Learning Snack describes the Large List Resource Throttling feature, which helps you manage large lists. It demonstrates how a Microsoft SQL Server logging database can be used to log SharePoint events. The Learning Snack also demonstrates how the SharePoint Best Practices Analyzer can be used to detect and automatically fix common issues.

Microsoft Visual Studio 2010
	Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 – The Best Path from Ideas to Solutions (15 minutes) New Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 helps simplify the entire development lifecycle, from design to deployment. This Learning Snack describes how Visual Studio 2010 helps you unleash your creativity with powerful prototyping, modeling, and design tools from within a personalized development environment. It also describes how developers and testers can work more efficiently with integrated testing and debugging tools to help find and fix bugs quickly and easily and help ensure the development of the right application, the right way.

Microsoft Visual Studio 2010

Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 – The Best Path from Ideas to Solutions (15 minutes) New
Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 helps simplify the entire development lifecycle, from design to deployment. This Learning Snack describes how Visual Studio 2010 helps you unleash your creativity with powerful prototyping, modeling, and design tools from within a personalized development environment. It also describes how developers and testers can work more efficiently with integrated testing and debugging tools to help find and fix bugs quickly and easily and help ensure the development of the right application, the right way.

Virtualization
	Microsoft Virtualization (15 minutes) The Microsoft Virtualization solution consists of four virtualization technologies: server, application, presentation, and desktop. Together, these technologies provide you with a complete desktop-to-datacenter virtualization solution that can help you create a dynamic IT infrastructure. This free Learning Snack highlights various features and benefits of the four virtualization technologies. It also takes a closer look at server virtualization and how it is implemented and managed in the Windows Server 2008 operating system.
	Intro to Windows Server 2008 Virtualization (3 minutes) This Snack explains the new virtualization features in Windows Server 2008 and lists the system requirements. It also demonstrates the steps necessary to install Windows Server virtualization.
	Green IT and Virtualization (8 minutes) Organizations are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental and business benefits of adopting a Green IT environment. This Learning Snack highlights how virtualization facilitates a Green IT environment. It describes the Hyper-V server role and the System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) tool, which help create and support a virtualized infrastructure in Windows Server 2008.

Web 2.0 Development
	Web 2.0 Ramp-On: Planning, Architecting, and Implementing Web 2.0 Services Using the Microsoft Web Platform (50 minutes) Kobe is the code name of the project executed to produce this resource kit on planning, architecting, and implementing Web 2.0 applications and services on the Microsoft platform. The kit includes a collection of related resources such as white papers, presentations, and a complete sample project with source code. This Learning Snack provides an overview of the resource kit.

Web 2.0 Development

Web 2.0 Ramp-On: Planning, Architecting, and Implementing Web 2.0 Services Using the Microsoft Web Platform (50 minutes)
Kobe is the code name of the project executed to produce this resource kit on planning, architecting, and implementing Web 2.0 applications and services on the Microsoft platform. The kit includes a collection of related resources such as white papers, presentations, and a complete sample project with source code. This Learning Snack provides an overview of the resource kit.

WebsiteSpark
	Installing and running a PHP application on Windows (11 minutes) Internet Information Services (IIS) and Windows have become a highly-effective platform for PHP-based applications. Learn about the advances in technology that will make IIS your preferred platform for PHP and how the Microsoft Web Platform Installer can have you up and running with PHP and popular free PHP applications in a matter of minutes. This Snack includes step-by-step demonstrations for installing and configuring MySQL for Windows as well as Drupal and WordPress.
	Installing an ASP.NET application (5 minutes) In the past, installing an ASP.NET application meant determining all of the proper versions of prerequisites and installing and configuring them properly before you could start installing the application. The Microsoft Web Platform Installer has made installing ASP.NET applications simple by installing all of the prerequisites with a click of a button and then installing the application itself. This Snack highlights the key pieces of the Microsoft Web Platform and demonstrates the steps necessary to install and initially configure the ASP.NET-based Umbraco content management system.
	Customizing the PHP application on Windows (19 minutes) Once your PHP application is installed, how can you add content to the site and customize the look and feel? This Snack explains how to get started with the Drupal content management system and how to use Microsoft Expression Web to customize your site. Learn how to use SuperPreview, a powerful feature of Expression Web that will help you make sure your site looks great in all browsers.
	Customizing the ASP.NET application (14 minutes) Third-party applications, such as content management systems, can be confusing until you get a feel for how they work. This Snack describes the steps to start using the Umbraco content management system. Learn how the Runway package can be used to display content and how to use Microsoft Expression Web to customize the look of your site. Take advantage of SuperPreview, a powerful feature of Expression Web, to make sure your site looks great in all browsers.
	Deploying an application (15 minutes) There are many hosting options available for IIS-based Web sites, and no single hosting type is right for everyone. Determine which type of hosting best serves your needs and then learn about the tools that can make deployment of your site easier. This Snack demonstrates how to use Visual Web Developer Express to deploy a site and how the powerful Web Deployment Tool can package an entire site, including the database and custom configuration settings for deployment.
	Search Engine Optimization (14 minutes) Search Engine Optimization is a very important step when creating a Web presence. If search engines cannot find your content, it is likely that visitors will not be able to find it either. The IIS SEO Toolkit and URL Rewrite Module for IIS 7 make it easy to improve your site's search engine effectiveness, address common SEO-related issues, and give you an advantage over the competition.
	Administration and Maintenance – Basic (32 minutes) IIS 7 is architected from the ground up to help you maintain your Web environment. By using IIS 7 modules and the command-line administration interface, you can keep your site running at top efficiency. IIS 7 also enables third-party applications, such as DotNetPanel, to provide sophisticated custom administration solutions with tight integration into your IIS 7 environment. This Snack gives you an overview of the tools you can use to perform a variety of tasks, ranging from managing a single Web site to acting as a hosting provider for multiple Web sites.
	Creating an ASP.NET MVC Application (24 minutes) The Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern separates an application into three main components: the Model, the View, and the Controller. The ASP.NET MVC framework provides an alternative to the ASP.NET Web Forms pattern for creating MVC-based Web applications. The ASP.NET MVC framework is a lightweight, highly testable presentation framework that (as with Web Forms-based applications) is integrated with existing ASP.NET features, such as master pages and membership-based authentication. This Snack uses the popular CodePlex site, called NerdDinner, to walk through the creation of an ASP.NET MVC application. It also demonstrates how to unit test your application.
	Managing Databases on Windows (15 minutes) With data playing such a crucial role in application development, it is imperative that developers have a way to manage and administer their databases easily. With this in mind, Microsoft has designed new tools and add-ins to familiar Microsoft developer tools—such as Visual Studio and IIS—that accommodate various developer work-flows. This Snack looks at creating and managing a database by using Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio, Microsoft Visual Studio, and the IIS Database Manager. In addition, new options for deploying a database will be demonstrated.
	Adding video to your site with Silverlight (15 minutes) Video has become an indispensable Web tool to engage and inform your online customers. Microsoft provides best-in-class video playback with IIS 7 and Microsoft Silverlight, which has been chosen as the video platform for the coverage of some of the most high-profile events over the last couple of years. Learn how using Microsoft Expression Encoder in conjunction with IIS 7 and Silverlight can make it simple to provide high quality video to your users.

Windows 7
	Introducing Windows 7 (26 minutes) The Windows 7 client operating system offers innovative technologies that improve performance, reliability, security, and compatibility. It also offers new capabilities that help organizations improve user productivity, enhance security, and reduce operating costs. Because Windows 7 is built on the same platform as Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, the investments you make in Windows Vista readiness—application testing and hardware assessment—will help speed the adoption of Windows 7 in your environment.
	Implementing User Account Control in Windows 7 (16 minutes) The User Account Control (UAC) feature was first implemented in the Windows Vista operating system to protect computers from malicious software and unauthorized system changes. Based on feedback from users and administrators, the Windows team significantly enhanced UAC in Windows 7 to give users greater control of their computers and provide administrators with more granular configuration settings. This Learning Snack explains how UAC works and shows you how to configure UAC security settings. It also describes the key UAC enhancements in Windows 7.
	Introducing BitLocker and AppLocker in Windows 7 (20 minutes) Every organization needs to keep its business-critical data secure and impervious to theft. This Learning Snack describes the BitLocker and AppLocker features in Windows 7, which give you more control over sensitive data. It demonstrates how BitLocker protects hard drives and the data on laptops, and how BitLocker to Go secures removable storage devices. This Learning Snack also shows you how to implement application control policies with AppLocker to protect the computers on your network from unlicensed and malicious software.
	Desktop Experience in Windows 7 (15 minutes) This Learning Snack describes the new desktop and taskbar features in Windows 7 that help you effortlessly manage your applications, folders, and windows. It also demonstrates how to use features such as Aero Peek and Aero Shake to manage open windows. This Snack also shows you how to create taskbar icons to easily access frequently used applications and Jump Lists to save files on your desktop without the clutter.
	Setting Up a Home Network in Windows 7 (7 minutes) If you have more than one computer in your home, you can create a home network so that you can easily share and access files and printers across the network. This Learning Snack describes the HomeGroup feature in Windows 7, which will help you create a home network quickly and easily.
	Introducing the Troubleshooting Platform in Windows 7 (14 minutes) Typically, when users have computer issues, they call the help desk to resolve them. However, if users have Windows 7, they can take advantage of its new tools to solve their computer problems without calling help desk. This Learning Snack explores new ways to manage and troubleshoot common computer problems in Windows 7 by using the troubleshooting platform, which includes Action Center and Problem Steps Recorder.
	Using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management Tool for Servicing Windows 7 Images (11 minutes) Windows 7 includes several tools that simplify desktop deployment, including Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM). DISM combines the functionality of several image-management tools that were available in Windows Vista. With the help of DISM, IT professionals and desktop configuration administrators can deploy Windows images to computer systems efficiently and quickly. This Learning Snack describes the DISM tool and demonstrates some of the commands that administrators can use while preparing and servicing Windows images offline.
	Windows 7 for Developers (67 minutes) Windows 7 offers a new way of interacting with the computer, using our hands. In two parts, the different aspects of implementing Touch, Multi-Touch, and Ink are covered. The taskbar is the new interface through which users can open applications and switch between windows. This Snack covers the taskbar functionality and includes the technical details of implementing jump lists, thumbnails, toolbar buttons, overlay icons, custom window switches, and more. The Sensors and Location Snack highlights scenarios and the implications of using sensors and location implantation within applications. In the last Snack, we examine the internal structure of Windows 7 libraries as well as the APIs and how to make an application library aware. Note This Snack was created by the Developer & Evangelism Platform (DPE) team at Microsoft.
	Understanding Volume Activation (15 minutes) Volume Activation is a set of technical and policy-related solutions used for automating and managing product activation. It is used in Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 operating systems. Volume Activation helps you address the piracy and product key management issues in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 operating systems. This Learning Snack describes the fundamentals of Volume Activation and the various methods that you can use to activate server and client computers.
	Finding and Organizing Information in Windows 7 (15 minutes) Most people need to view, organize, and find information that is stored not just on their own computer, but also beyond. This Learning Snack describes libraries in Windows 7, and how you can use them to organize data efficiently. It also describes the search improvements in Windows 7 and demonstrates how you can find information stored across multiple computers, Web sites, and servers as easily as searching for information on your own computer.
	Remote Connectivity in Windows 7 (15 minutes) These days, more people are working from branch offices or home offices instead of the central office. Although advances in mobile computers and wireless broadband have enabled users to be more productive, productivity is still limited by users' connectivity to corporate resources while away from the office. The changing structure of business puts more pressure on IT professionals to provide a high-performance and secure infrastructure for connecting remote users and branch offices while minimizing costs. Windows 7 offers solutions that enable users to stay connected whether they are traveling or working from home and enables IT professionals to better manage mobile computers. This Learning Snack describes Windows 7 remote connectivity technologies, such as Mobile broadband, DirectAccess, VPN Reconnect, and BranchCache.
	Automating Windows 7 Management (15 minutes) Built on the Microsoft .NET Framework, Windows PowerShell provides IT professionals the flexibility to automate many administrative tasks and manage Windows efficiently. With the inclusion of features such as PowerShell remoting, Windows PowerShell makes it easier for Windows administrators to control and manage their Windows 7 environment. This Learning Snack demonstrates how to use Windows PowerShell to automate common administrative tasks. It also demonstrates how Windows PowerShell can be used to gather diagnostic data from remote computers.

Windows Azure / Cloud Computing
	Introduction to Microsoft Online Services (15 minutes) New! Today, organizations are increasingly looking to the Cloud for effective communications and collaboration capabilities that enable them to respond quickly to customer needs and competitive threats. Microsoft Online Services is a set of Cloud Services that provide a robust communications and collaboration solution to organizations without the need for large upfront capital expenditure. This snack describes how businesses of all sizes can benefit by using Microsoft Online Services and explains how Microsoft Online Services empower IT administrators to deliver more value to their organizations.
	Introduction to Microsoft Windows Azure Platform (15 minutes) New! Microsoft Windows Azure platform is an Internet-scale cloud computing and services platform hosted in highly secure, geo-redundant Microsoft data centers. It offers a flexible, familiar development environment to create cloud applications and services. Using the Windows Azure platform, organizations can easily deploy applications in the cloud-based infrastructure without incurring huge costs involved in planning, purchasing, configuring, and maintaining the hardware and software required to deploy the applications. This snack introduces the features and benefits of the Windows Azure platform. This snack also compares the key characteristics of the Windows Azure platform with other cloud-computing vendors.
	Introduction to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online (15 minutes) New! Dynamics CRM Online is a powerful, easy-to-use CRM solution that is delivered as a service in the cloud on a pay-per-use basis. It offers a complete suite of marketing, sales, and customer service capabilities with a familiar Microsoft Office Outlook experience. With Dynamics CRM Online, organizations can analyze customer information, understand their customers better, and develop stronger customer relationships.
	Customer Success Stories with Microsoft Cloud Offerings (15 minutes) New! Windows Azure is the Microsoft cloud-computing platform that helps organizations build and deploy applications to a Microsoft-hosted infrastructure and pay only for services used. It offers compute, storage, and networking resources as services. Businesses can utilize these cloud-based assets to transform their existing server-based systems into dynamic environments.
	Windows Azure Platform and Interoperability (15 minutes) New! Microsoft Windows Azure platform supports various Microsoft and non-Microsoft technologies and provides a flexible environment and several open-source resources to develop cloud-based applications and services. This cloud-based platform is built to maximize interoperability. It supports various commonly used Internet protocols, such as HTTP, REST, SOAP, and XML to ensure data portability from an external development environment. This snack explains how Windows Azure resources, such as the Windows Azure Tools for Eclipse, the Windows Azure SDK for PHP, the Windows Azure SDK for Java, and the Windows Azure Tomcat solution accelerator helps create cross-platform applications that run on Windows Azure.
	Cloud Computing and Microsoft Offerings (15 minutes) New! Cloud computing is a paradigm shift that provides computing over the Internet. It offers infrastructure, platform, and software as services; organizations can use any of these services, depending on their business needs. Organizations can simply connect to the cloud and use the available resources on a pay-per-use basis. Microsoft offers flexible cloud-computing solutions that help communicate, collaborate, and store data in a cloud. The cloud services offered by Microsoft are cost effective, secure, always available, and platform independent. This snack explains the concept of cloud computing and its advantages. The snack also provides an overview of Microsoft’s cloud-computing strategy and offerings.

Windows Essential Business Server 2008
	Introduction to Windows Essential Server Solutions (22 minutes) The Windows Essential Server family of solutions provides small and medium-sized businesses with integrated business server solutions, which will help enhance productivity and promote cost savings. This Learning Snack describes how the Windows Essential Server Solutions products—Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server (EBS) 2008—give small and medium-sized businesses the flexibility to grow their business capacity. It also describes the administrative consoles in Windows SBS 2008 and Windows EBS 2008, which gives administrators a single point of access to their IT environment.

Windows Essential Business Server 2008

Introduction to Windows Essential Server Solutions (22 minutes)
The Windows Essential Server family of solutions provides small and medium-sized businesses with integrated business server solutions, which will help enhance productivity and promote cost savings. This Learning Snack describes how the Windows Essential Server Solutions products—Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server (EBS) 2008—give small and medium-sized businesses the flexibility to grow their business capacity. It also describes the administrative consoles in Windows SBS 2008 and Windows EBS 2008, which gives administrators a single point of access to their IT environment.

Windows Server 2008 Release 2 (R2)
	Introducing Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 R2 (13 minutes) Hyper-V provides a dynamic, reliable, and scalable virtualization platform that is combined with a set of integrated tools to manage both physical and virtual resources. Hyper-V enables the data centers of business enterprises to be highly responsive and dynamic. With Hyper-V virtualization, you can efficiently run multiple operating systems in parallel on a single server and fully use the power of x64 computing. This Learning Snack explains Hyper-V features, such as Live Migration and Cluster Shared Volume, which are available in Windows Server 2008 R2. It also explains how to use Live Migration in Windows Server 2008 R2.
	Introducing BranchCache in Windows Server 2008 R2 (15 minutes) The branch office management faces several challenges when storing and retrieving data from the servers located in the head office, including slow and expensive WAN links between the head office and branch offices, high link utilization, poor application responsiveness, and difficulties with system management and administration, deployment of new computers, and optimizing operational costs. Using the BranchCache feature in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 for locally caching frequently-used content on the branch office computers, you can optimize network use and improve the user experience at branch offices. This Learning Snack explains the BranchCache feature available in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. It also explains the two modes of BranchCache: distributed cache and hosted cache.
	Introducing DirectAccess in Windows Server 2008 R2 (13 minutes) Organizations rely on VPN connections to provide remote users with secure access to data on the corporate network. However, VPN connections must first be established and might require additional configuration of the firewall. Often, organizations find it difficult to manage remote computers effectively. To overcome such limitations in VPN connections, organizations can implement DirectAccess, available in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7, to provide a seamless connection between the internal network and the remote computer via the Internet. This Learning Snack explains the benefits and requirements of the DirectAccess feature available in Windows Server 2008 R2. It also explains how to use the DirectAccess feature in Windows Server 2008 R2.
	Management Enhancements in Windows Server 2008 R2 (26 minutes) Windows Server 2008 R2 makes it easier to manage physical and virtual servers by providing enhanced management consoles and automation for repetitive day-to-day administrative tasks. Windows Server 2008 R2 provides better energy efficiency and performance by reducing power consumption and lowering overhead costs. This Learning Snack explains management enhancements in Windows Server 2008 R2, such as remote management with Server Manager, Best Practice Analyzer (BPA), Active Directory Administrative Center, Windows PowerShell 2.0, and SConfig on Server Core. It also explains how to use these enhancements in Windows Server 2008 R2.

Windows Server 2008
	Introducing Branch Office Server in Windows Server 2008 (4 minutes) This Snack describes the benefits that Windows Server 2008 provides for installing and maintaining a branch office network. It demonstrates the installation of a branch office network by using the new server core option. It also lists the benefits of Active Directory read-only domain controllers (RODCs) and BitLocker Drive Encryption.
	Introducing Centralized Application Access in Windows Server 2008 (5 minutes) This Snack explains the operational benefits of centralizing applications by using Windows Server 2008. It examines the benefits of Terminal Services and lists ways to provide remote users with access to centralized applications by using Terminal Services Web Access. It also describes the requirements for providing a single sign-on for remote users.
	Implementing Active Directory Domain Services in Windows Server 2008 (6 minutes) This Snack describes the new options available in Windows Server 2008 for installing and configuring Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) and auditing changes to it. It lists the features of read-only domain controllers (RODCs) and describes how to perform a non-authoritative or an authoritative restore of AD DS data.
	Implementing Network Access Protection in Windows Server 2008 (7 minutes) This Snack describes the benefits of implementing Network Access Protection (NAP) in Windows Server 2008. It describes how to configure network and health policies for various types of clients. It identifies the options for configuring Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) enforcement for NAP and demonstrates the steps for testing a NAP implementation with DHCP enforcement.
	Implementing Windows Server 2008 Security (4 minutes) This Snack examines and lists the features of Group Policy settings in Windows Server 2008. It demonstrates the steps for implementing Group Policy settings and the process of upgrading them. It also explains the purpose of security templates that can be imported into Group Policy settings.
	Intro to Windows Server 2008 Virtualization (3 minutes) This Snack explains the new virtualization features in Windows Server 2008 and lists the system requirements. It also demonstrates the steps necessary to install Windows Server virtualization.
	Green IT and Virtualization (8 minutes) Organizations are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental and business benefits of adopting a Green IT environment. This Learning Snack highlights how virtualization facilitates a Green IT environment. It describes the Hyper-V server role and the System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) tool, which help create and support a virtualized infrastructure in Windows Server 2008.

Windows Vista
	Windows Vista Essentials (11 minutes) This Snack describes some of the innovative new features in Windows Vista, including a sidebar that provides information at a glance. It showcases the Windows Aero technology and demonstrates the improved file organization techniques. In addition, this Snack walks you through the various ways you can search for information on your computer or on the Internet.
	The Business Value of Windows Vista (17 minutes) The Windows Vista operating system offers several benefits over previous Windows operating systems. It provides improved performance, administration, and security. This Snack highlights the enhanced features of Windows Vista, including improved support for mobile users, which can help organizations improve their IT infrastructure and reduce the cost of ownership. This Snack also describes various performance-enhancement features that can help businesses improve productivity and reduce administration and support costs.
	Planning for Windows Vista (15 minutes) Successfully upgrading a desktop operating system across an organization takes careful planning. To simplify the process of migrating desktops to Windows Vista, Microsoft provides a three-step desktop migration process. This Snack takes you through a step-by-step guide for assessing an organization's existing hardware and software and creating a detailed plan for deploying Windows Vista. It also describes download tools offered free by Microsoft; these tools can help you automate the hardware and software assessment of the IT infrastructure and the deployment of Windows Vista.
	Deploying Windows Vista (15 minutes) Microsoft provides a range of tools and utilities that can help organizations successfully deploy Windows Vista. This Learning Snack describes how to deploy Windows Vista across a network and demonstrates how to create Windows Vista installation images and deploy them on desktops on a network. It also provides guidelines and best practices for deploying Windows Vista in an organization.
	Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (14 minutes) The Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) is a suite of products that can help organizations implement the Core Infrastructure Optimization (Core IO) model. This Learning Snack explains how the MDOP facilitates Infrastructure Optimization (IO). It also demonstrates procedures for recovering lost files and managing Group Policy objects (GPOs) by using products in the MDOP suite.

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